Game 14: Elmira @ Trenton

Pre-Game Notes (LIVE from SBA): About the only thing I can tell you right now is that Charlie Effinger is expected to get the nod between the pipes tonight for the Trenton Devils.

There are a few other things that I’m working on confirming, and I should have more info for you later tonight…

7:15 PM — Mitch O’Keefe gets the nod for Elmira. Jeremy Akeson did take warm-ups and is expected to play tonight. Scott Bartlett and Joe Gerbe are your likely scratches. Pictures coming shortly…

Around The ECHL:

Around The Division:

Live Box Score: Click here for the ECHL.com updated boxscore from tonight’s game.

Radio Broadcast: Click here to listen to Paul Roper’s radio broadcast of tonight’s game.

First Period: 15:39 left — Elmira’s on the power play and nearly scored beforehand, with Charlie Effinger unable to corral a loose puck in the crease. He was scrambling all over the place for a while, but Elmira couldn’t convert.

11:51 left — Effinger made several outstanding saves on the man advantage…just now, Benoit Mondou had what was a worst case partial breakaway, but he put on the brakes just enough to get his shot deflected into the netting.

8:49 left — Trenton had several good chances on a 5-on-3, but couldn’t convert…

7:57 left — Josh Aspenlind had absolutely all day to beat Effinger, but Effinger outwaited him and made the big, point blank save.

2:57 left — Trenton’s outshooting Elmira, 11-10. Both goalies have been sharp, but I really like Effinger so far. A little scrambly on occasion, but pretty solid so far. He’s been making the big stop.

42.2 left — Brandon Scero just accidentally high-sticked Jeff Prough somewhere on the side of the helmet, perhaps near his ear…double minor is called.

0.4 left — Tyler Burton appeared to score with just a tick left on the clock, but the goal was emphatically waved off after it was ruled Burton first knocked down the puck with a high stick…

0-0 AFTER ONE PERIOD. TRENTON LOOKING AS GOOD AS THEY HAVE AT SBA ALL YEAR SO FAR

Second Period: Shots are 13-11, Trenton, heading into the final 40. Check out the first period highlights…

18:12 left — Dan McGoff with two questionable plays this game already…a blind giveaway in the first, and skating the puck out of the zone along the boards on the PP.

13:52 left — Probably the strongest game Jim Henkel’s had here all year. He’s created a lot of chances, and his legs look like they’ve got a lot of jump tonight.

13:08 left — And of course, as I write that, he goes flying through the air after a check at the blue line…

12:42 left — If you’re counting disallowed goals, Elmira just tied it at 1-1. If you’re not, we remain scoreless. One of Jackals apparently kicked the puck in on a feed from Bruce Watson…

10:11 left — Dare I say that Trenton is flying out there right now? But Mitch O’Keefe has been outstanding, and it remains tied. But the Devils actually look like the better team.

3:25 left — Kaleb Betts has been running around out there for about 37 minutes now…you would think someone would do something about this by now.

1:19 left — Somewhat of an odd timeout by Elmira…I know their players got caught out there after a long shift on an icing, but you’d expect something like this in the third, not necessarily now.

0-0 AFTER TWO. SHOTS ARE 27-17, TRENTON. THEY STILL CAN’T SCORE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TEAM FROM THE LAST TIME THEY PLAYED. THEY’RE PLAYING A LOT MORE PHYSICAL, AND THE GOALTENDING HAS BEEN VERY, VERY SHARP.

Third Period: 19:39 left — Kaleb Betts threw another big body check. Gord Burnett had enough. Betts wouldn’t drop his gloves. A pathetic display if you ask me…if you’re going to play on the edge like that, you’d better be ready to pay the consequences. It’s a scoreless game, there’s no excuse for that. But again, Burnett puts his team shorthanded…I have NO PROBLEM with a guy standing up for his team, but he’s got to find a better way.

15:55 left — So I look down and see some commotion, and Betts is getting into a verbal confrontation with some fans, including a group of kids, while sitting in the penalty box. I bet he’s a popular guy around the league.

13:23 left — Real nice pace to this period. Shots are 29-21, Trenton, right now. Faubert deked Gunderson out of his skates a little earlier, but Effinger made the stop.

9:09 left — Benoit Mondou just had the best scoring chance either team’s had all night, skating in all alone on a breakaway. He deked to his backhand at the last second and tried to lift the puck over O’Keefe’s pads, but the Senators prospect would have none of it. Nice, nice save.

6:24 left — Still scoreless through over 53 minutes of play.

5:25 left — Well, it was bound to happen at some point. Steve Yetman came up the middle on the rush and fired a slapper that appeared to beat Effinger underneath his right arm, trickling in after he got a piece of it. 1-0, Elmira.

1:28 left — Trenton takes their timeout. This could be the hardest loss yet if that’s how this one turns out…

ELMIRA WINS 1-0.

Final Score: 1-0, Jackals.

Three Stars:

* Steve Yetman
** Mitch O’Keefe
*** Charlie Effinger

Post-Game Notes:

Pre-Game Photos:

Jason Smith, who has a “Smitty” Canadian license plate on his backplate…

Smith

Michael Teslak

Travis Gawryletz

Mitch O’Keefe

Dan Eves

Charlie Effinger, still wearing his college mask

Jeff Prough

Mark O’Leary

Tyler Burton

In-Game Videos:

1st Period: Charlie Effinger save

1st Period: Effinger save on PP

1st Period: Dan McGoff’s shot is blocked

1st Period: Brett Pilkington’s near miss

1st Period: Mitch O’Keefe’s save on Jim Henkel

1st Period: Dan Travis denied by O’Keefe

2nd Period: O’Keefe stops McGoff

2nd Period: Tyler Burton’s chance in the slot is blocked by Slavomir Tomko

2nd Period: Jeff Prough raises his arms in celebration, but is robbed by O’Keefe